Dolly Parton has received her first Covid-19 vaccination, after she donated $1 million to help fund coronavirus research last year.
The country singer got a shot of the Moderna vaccine and joked on Instagram that she had got “a dose of her own medicine”.
Parton, 75, received her Covid jab at Vanderbilt Health in Nashville, Tennessee, on Tuesday.
The singer also posted a video to social media urging her followers to get the vaccination if they are eligible, and said that she was “old enough” and “smart enough” to get the jab.
Parton’s blouse – which matched her blue mask – even had a vaccine-appropriate design, with gaps in the arms for the shot to be administered.
She riffed on her hit “Jolene” by singing: Vaccine, vaccine, vaccine, vaccine. I’m begging of you please don’t hesitate ... ’cause once you dead, then that’s a bit too late.”
Parton encouraged her followers to “get out there and get your shot” before getting her own shot on camera.
Her jab was administered by her friend, Dr Naji Abumrad.
“”I’m so glad that you’re here and that you’re giving the great message,” said Dr Abumrad.
The singer also blasted anti-vaxxers in her video message.
“I just want to say to all of you cowards out there: don’t be such a chicken squat. Get out there and get your shot,” she said.
Parton’s donation was partly used to fund Moderna’s Covid vaccines, something she did not even know about until her name appeared in a preliminary report on it.
